High Wood, Liskeard – Woodland Restoration – Update Winter 2023
Over 2023, Steve the Ecologist has been progressing High Wood’s restoration. With this year’s activities completed, he gives us a summary of what was undertaken, why, and how the woodlands is already responding to the changes.
The long-term aim at High Wood is the eventual removal of almost all alien conifer and the establishment of a diversely structured, predominantly broadleaf woodland rich in biodiversity. The long restoration work to this end began in February 2023. Two phases of forestry thinning operations were conducted by the Brendan Stagg Consultancy. The first phase lasted from the 13th of February until the 31st of March; the second phase from the 9th of October until the 18th of November.
Phase 1 - Conifer thinning at High Wood’s eastern side
Work began at the eastern end of the woodland, as the priority was seen as clearing conifer from around the existing semi-mature Oak trees. The next step was to move westward and begin thinning the extensive stands of conifer, much of it planted in the 1960s, with the aim of increasing light levels within the woodland and kickstarting the process of natural regeneration of broadleaf tree species. This thinning process involves, very approximately, the removal of every third tree.
The semi-mature Oaks, although 100 years old, are thin, stunted trees that have become contorted into unusual shapes as the surrounding conifer has deprived them of light, water, and nutrients. Removing the nearest conifers was seen as a necessary and crucial process in order to improve the health and extend the lifespan of the Oaks. The risk was that removing too much conifer too quickly would expose the Oaks to the elements and leave them vulnerable to wind damage. The forestry operators were fully briefed on this balance, and they began their work with this in mind and as carefully as could be hoped for when using 20-ton forest harvesters to fell and process 25-metre-tall trees. Many of the more inaccessible trees on steep slope areas were felled by hand with a chainsaw.
The process to restore High Wood to a native woodland will take years with efforts focused on removal of non-native trees (a legacy of the wood’s previous chapter as a forestry plantation), soil regeneration, and biodiversity development.
During the first phase, the closest conifers were cleared from around the Oaks and, heading westward, two-thirds of the woodland’s conifer thinned. The timber was processed (brash removed) and stacked at the edge of the main track, ready for removal from the site.
The first phase of the work was considered to have gone very well both in terms of the quality and outcomes of the work and the absence of incidents.
The local community were made aware of the need and aims of the work through signage and direct interaction and were overwhelmingly in favour despite the disruption. It was inevitable that the harvesting works and the removal of timber would leave many of the woodland trails, including the main track, in a very poor and muddy state. The contractors did a good job of reinstating the tracks before they left the site. It was calculated that 900 tons of timber was felled and removed from site in the first phase of the operations.
Phase 2 - Conifer thinning on High Woods’ western end
Although ground conditions would be much better, no forestry work took place in summer due to breeding wildlife during this period. Therefore, phase two began in October at the beginning of what was to be one of the wettest autumns on record. The final third of the woodland was thinned as above, including the far western end where the largest conifers found in High Wood, planted in the 1920s, occur. The size of these trees explains why, at the end of phase two, a similar volume (900 tons) had again been harvested.
The remaining 1920s conifers will not be harvested – despite the overall plan for restoration to broadleaf woodland. These trees will be allowed to grow to full maturity; over-mature Douglas Fir become more valuable for wildlife as they age, with the proliferation of cracks and crannies favoured by roosting and nesting bats and birds.
Other work undertaken by volunteers with hand tools included the removal of small recently planted conifers of around six years old. Special dispensation was obtained to fell these young trees, contrary to normal forestry practice, from the Forestry Commission. An area of nearly 2 hectares was cleared, thereby nipping in the bud another much larger felling operation some decades down the track. Indeed, all the works described were only possible due to an amendment to the existing felling/restocking license negotiated with the Forestry Commission – an unusual but very welcome outcome.
Overall, the second phase was considered to have gone very well. The woodland trails and tracks were, again, unavoidably, in an extremely muddy state at the end of the operations.
Volunteers clearing by hand young conifers.
And, unfortunately, another product of the extremely wet and windy autumn – six mature Oaks were blown over. The site is not considered vulnerable or prone to wind damage, although the soils are thin. But four named storms in four months, including one in August when the trees were in full leaf, resulted in this loss. Oaks currently make up 9% of High Wood – so around 2.4 hectares of Oak remain along with another 0.4 hectares of other mixed broadleaf species – so the core of the restoration remains very much in place.
Interestingly, the root plates of these Oaks revealed very small diameter root systems with small, rather desiccated roots. These trees had not been in optimal health for some time, but it is likely that the remaining Oaks will respond quickly and very positively to their new, more favourable environment.
How nature is responding to Protect Earth’s habitat restoration efforts
It is already obvious that woodland plants are now spreading into the previously barren woodland floor underneath the conifer. Much natural regeneration is in evidence throughout the woodland despite the presence of deer.
Butterflies already appear to be responding well to the management, with more brambles and scrub appearing in cleared areas. Silver-washed Fritillary were particularly numerous during the summer. Various species of migrant warbler bred on site, and Redstart was recorded this year while being notably absent last year.
What’s coming up
Some ongoing but more minor management will continue – like the further clearing of another area of small restock conifer – but no further large forestry operations will be considered for five years. The woodland will be allowed to develop and recover until a management review in 2029.
Because further forestry operations in five years’ time have the potential to damage many years of natural regeneration, it is likely that future forest work will be carried out more gradually with chainsaws alone to allow for more precision.
Other notable news for 2023 was the awarding of National Lottery funding for High Wood. Because of this, we have installed (or will shortly be installing):
Welcome and information boards.
A horse rider-accessible entrance gate.
Wooden benches.
Numerous bird boxes of various designs and dormouse boxes.
